Was once a podcast with Elwood D. Pennypacker (@oldtimeelwood on the Twitter) that went by the old expression "Punk Isn't Dead, It Just Goes to Bed at a More Reasonable Hour".
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Looker; Orion Experience; Other Local Faves' Upcoming Shows
We're slipping here at the SPHQ because Looker and the Orion Experience are playing Maxwell's tonight and yours truly had no idea till just now. Booooo.
You can catch also Looker tomorrow night at Public Assembly (the rock n' roll venue that was once Galapagos Art Space, which itself has officially moved into DUMBO and will no longer host rock shows). They will also be playing the Mercury Lounge on the 25th and Union Hall on August 22nd.
The Orion Experience will be at the Knitting Factory on July 24th and the Highline in October.
Action Painters are playing the Bowery Ballroom on Saturday night, opening for TigerCity, making for a nice alternative Siren festival after-party.
The Teenage Prayers have joined Eli "Paperboy" Reed for his show at Union Hall on August 1.
NYC's other Teenage band of note, My Teenage Stride, is also playing Union Hall in August...the 20th to be exact.
Psst...Joan Wasser is playing the Bowery Ballroom on September 25th. Don't tell anyone till I have a ticket.
In another slip-up, Wormburner played the Merc last night and now you'll have to wait till the Fall to see them again. Drats.
Friday April 11 has to be one of the most packed non-festival days in NYC recent rock history. And it is bookended by some pretty impressive shows on either side of it.
Tonight, Thursday, April 10:
Gnarls Barkley @ Highline Ballroom
M.O.T.O. @ Knitting Factory
David Dondero & The Entire State of Florida @ Knitting Factory
Friday, April 11:
The Dirtbombs; Kelley Stoltz; Care Bears on Fire @ Bowery Ballroom
Pissed Jeans @ Knitting Factory
Nada Surf @ Terminal 5
The Sadies @ Luna Lounge
The Nouvelas @ Maxwell's
Man Man; Yeasayer @ Brooklyn Masonic Temple
David Dondero & The Entire State of Florida @ Union Hall
The Wagonmaster passed on this year, but not before showing the wide-ranging crowd at Madison Square Garden where Jack White gets a little bit of his theatricality and, more importantly, some of his country melancholia from.
M. Ward
Live Show
Last year, M. Ward had one of his best records in Post-War. This year, he kept it on the road, dishing out a hard-working, durable shift of country-stomp rock that matches his artistic ethic. Truly, one of the greatest artists out there right now. And “Big Boat” live is as good as it can get. SPTV:
“The Way I Am” by Ingrid Michaelson A dollop of ultra-cuteness can go a long way. And she’s packing ‘em in all over the city. Finally, something good has come out of Staten Island. Video
Webster Hall For all of Terminal 5’s flaws, that place still beats the hell out of the more convenient Webster Hall. Webster Hall’s list of problems can go on forever but even considering all those flaws, the venue had a great year thanks to the Bowery Presents. The Jesus and Mary Chain, Metric, Okkervil River, and Josh Ritter made for some of the best nights of the year and the rest of the calendar was impressive.
Ween
Live Show
Record: La Cucaracha
Song: “Your Party”
Ween came back in 2007 and it was about time. The back-to-brownness of La Cucaracha first came off piss poor but as time wore on, and the songs nagged away in one’s head like a Ween-listening roach might do, the album eventually sounded like one right gem. And of course, they are just about unmatched live, and certainly so if you love the jamming. If you don’t, Ween is still good at it. Boognish bless ‘em, may they stay forever.
We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank by Modest Mouse Isaac Brock recruited Johnny Marr of ye olde Smiths to be his guitarist and while Marr certainly did a good job on this record, the strength of course lies with Brock’s constructions. “Dashboard” and “We’ve Got Everything” are two of the best songs of the year and the rest of the album is pretty darn good. After “Float On” wore off, it took a long time for ol’ Pennypacker to become a believer in Modest Mouse, but it finally happened.
White Rabbits
Live Show
Song: “The Kid On My Shoulder”
Admittedly, it’s kind of fun to pick on the White Rabbits for their stiffness on stage but that’s only because they are actually a very good band. They work hard and don’t stop and they are moving up fast and furious. They are showing tendencies to head down the Spoon path and that is certainly a successful path to take.
When the first strains of Icky Thump – both the single and the LP – were heard, the instant declaration was easy to understand: The White Stripes Were Back. And the special show at Irving Plaza may still very well hold up as the greatest 2 hours ever. Everything made sense at that point. All the past added up – this is where modern music is supposed to be. In every form, in every facet, this was it. But then the Madison Square Garden show was both too much and under-whelming (though as previously noted, none of it the fault of Jack and Meg at all). And then poor Meg bowed out. And all the merchandise madness started bordering on KISS territory (though admittedly in a much cuter, wholesome, and essentially harmless way). And by the end of 2007, the feelings around the greatest band of the decade were not at the level of greatest. But you know, come 2009, or whenever the band may reunite, it will probably all come roaring back again. In the meantime, enjoy the “Conquest” b-sides.
Williamsburg/Greenpoint About ten years too late, the confessionary Pennypacker lived in Williamsburg and Greenpoint for most of a summer and fall. Camera Obscura and Carina Round did fantastic free sets at Sound Fix (a record shop that shows much love to the White Stripes, Black Lips, White Rabbits and the Yarrows, who are not contemplating calling themselves the White Yarrows or Black Yarrows at this time). The Music Hall of Williamsburg, the Bowery Presents first new venue of the autumn, kicked off with a host of quality acts, and the Vampire Weekend and Apples in Stereo reviewed gigs certainly did not disappoint. The Luna Lounge relocated and reopened in 2007 and turned out to be a country backyard home for the Knitters, Scott Biram, and Heavy Trash. Galapagos began its countdown to the DUMBO move with some great gigs (including Les Sans Culottes and Miss Alex White). The Trash Bar seemed to have a quiet year but that means it was really doing something right in the stillness. Union Pool is much beloved in the area. Zebulon is considered the best avant garde venue in all of New York City now that Tonic is gone. And Don Pedro’s and Pete’s Candy Store are ready to carry on the legacy as the good times extend into Bushwick. Love it or hate it, this is still the place to be. For now, anyway.
“Woo Yeah Uh Huh Alright” by the Rapture A dynamite dance-rock single by the band considered to be the best at doing it. Their most accessible and best song yet, Brooklyn’s Rapture should have been a national mega-band when this one…dropped, as the kids like to say nowadays. Maybe someday. “Get Myself Into It” is an excellent runner-up by the way.
Wormburner
Live Show
Record: A Hero’s Welcome
Song: “Sleepy Jane”
Wormburner is one of New York’s best rock bands. Period. Power-pop to a tee and not a slip up in the repertoire. And they’re moving on up in the world. From an opening night mid-card slot at CMJ to co-headlining a Bowery Ballroom Christmas show with posters all over the city – and they’re doing it without Pitchfork and the local scenester blogs (except this one obviously). That being said, all music lovers are encouraged to check this band out. NOW. SPTV at CMJ:
CMJ 2007, Night 1: Looker, Wormburner, Vegabond, Teenage Prayers, Mixtapes and Cellmates, John White
Unlike other multi-gig reviews, we're doing this one in chronological order, not the usual reverse.
John White @ Cake Shop New York, NY - October 16, 2007
Sonic Parthenon's CMJ Music Marathon coverage got underway with a stop-in at the free show going on at the Cake Shop. New Zealander John White offers delicate acoustic folk in the vein of Iron & Wine. Gentle, mellow, but also ethereal and a bit spooky.
Teenage Prayers; Mixtapes and Cellmates @ Arlene's Grocery New York, NY - October 16, 2007
The Teenage Prayers began their set with a bit of bar-band rock and it was looking good but they were foiled by sound problems. Another problem for the New York band, was that some of the better tunes were sidelined by the cluttered, noisy ones. The band sounds better when it is organized. Their 70's pop-rock inspirations work better than their Grateful Dead and Band inspirations. The Teenage Prayers Mixtapes and Cellmates, a young quartet from Stockholm opened the CMJ festivities at Arlene's with their own sound problems and they thought for sure they had played a trainwreck. But surprise, surprise, they sounded alright and maybe more importantly their overall sonic template is really good. A bit Britpop, this band sounded familiar but was hard to define. If anything, their synth backbeat leads to something on the order of Coldplay meets VHS or Beta. They make good, thinking music, but you can move to it, or just let it wash over you. This is music ripe for a good soundtrack. This may be one of the better discoveries at this year's marathon. Mixtapes and Cellmates
Wormburner; Vegabond @ Midway New York, NY - October 16, 2007
Last time (the first time) I saw Wormburner I was really drunk. Incredibly, and needlessly, drunk. And I liked what I heard. Wormburner had to pass the sobriety test and the band passed it with flying colors. Glorious power rock, at times pop, at times all out rock n roll, Wormburner blends the needless rock labeling system and spits out something incredibly catchy and fun. They are having a great time up there and they bring it out in the audience. Stay tuned, this is going to be one of New York's best. Wormburner
It's not often, if ever, an overtly hostile review of a band is put on this blog. I try to go out of my way to not overtly criticize a band beyond the flaws that I, as an average listener with no personal musical expertise, may see. But then there are times like Vegabond. I am sorry, guys, I really am. I don't mean to be a total insensitive ass about this but...this was awful. Utterly awful. It's not that Goth-metal can't be my thing at times - anything can be good at some point - but this was just trite, uninspired, shlock rock. Looker @ Pianos New York, NY - October 16, 2007
By a stroke of luck, I caught the last 2 and a half songs by Looker for the fourth and final gig of the night. The sound at Pianos was much kinder to the band than the set-up at the Lucky Cat's, showcasing the quartet's knack for pop hooks and rock n' roll. The sizable crowd was really into it. A great nightcap to end a packed first night of CMJ 2007. Looker
Artist of the Week: Bands of CMJ; AKA The Attempted Sonic Parthenon CMJ Itinerary
Killing two birds with one stone, this weeks' artists of note are the bands to be seen, or to try to be seen, for the CMJ Music Marathon. Some of these shows overlap so there won't be reviews of some of these bands but it is heartily recommended that if you don't see one, see the other.
Tuesday, October 16
Teenage Prayers @ Arlene's Grocery These New Yorkers got short shrift when they opened for the Hold Steady at Prospect Park now is the time to make it right.
Wormburner @ Midway Fun local guys that know how to party. This time, we're seein' 'em sober!
Sam Champion & Looker @ Pianos How much can a band capitalize on the name of a weatherman? Find out. And before that, see New York's best pop-punk band.
Wednesday, October 17
Nikki Corvette and the Stingrays & Black Tie Revue @ Southpaw A hot rockin' gal and Pittsburgh's best and brightest all on one bill. The latter have a pop-punk record but they are pure good time garage live.
Thursday, October 18
The Dirtbombs, Jay Reatard, The Intelligence, Miss Alex White, Cheap Time, & Turbo Fruits @ Mercury Lounge Two bands from Nashville, one from Memphis, one from Seattle, one from Chicago, and the headliners from...what's that city? I forget. But they're good. And half of this bill is practically guranteed good and the rest are looking good. Maybe the bill of the festival.
Action Painters @ Europa A great New York band. Utterly great. Friday, October 19
Sahara Hotnights & The 1900's @ Bowery Ballroom The Sahara Hotnights won't go away and they prove it by flying over from Sweden just to play this one set. We may have to check them out just because. The 1900's are a cute little pop band from Chicago. 2008 may be Chicago's year, and if it is, this band will play a big part in it.
The Nouvellas @ Magnetic Field Dansettes 2.0 take off on Atlantic Ave. The Dirtbombs @ Southpaw The Dirtbombs for the nightcap. Saturday, October 20
The Hard Lessons @ Magnetic Field Get the last night of CMJ off to a rockin' start with these kids. But don't wear yourself out just yet...
The Dirtbombs @ Maxwell's The SP house band, and this year's CMJ house band it seems, end the fest with their traditional hour-plus party in Hoboken.
After getting too drunk for my own good at some yuppie bar party in Midtown, I somehow wound up at the Mercury Lounge, randomly checking out whoever was playing. I walked in on Wormburner who seem to be doing the power-pop indie-rock thing well and their cover of "Hungry Like The Wolf" was a good, pure version - we're not talking the Killers here. Headlining act Action Painters were just as good with good stage presence but I had to leave after a couple songs because the booze was catching up with me. Checking out their recorded music, it appears they didn't benefit from the "All Bands Are Great When You're Drunk" law. They're for real. I'll be sure to see these bands again.
